{"id":2159789,"date":"2026-09-23T13:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2159789"},"modified":"2026-09-23T13:00:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:00:03","slug":"from-tian-shan-peaks-to-silk-road-history-a-journey-through-turkistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2159789","title":{"rendered":"From Tian Shan peaks to Silk Road history: A journey through Turkistan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/73\/1200x675_cmsv2_ec2f7e60-867a-5e0e-8be4-d1b2759205ff-9922873.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2928091-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2928091\" data-cid=\"9925035\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928091-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/35\/189x106_cmsv2_4a49e073-f72a-5abe-8e14-4539bd7174ca-9925035.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Syria&apos;s President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Syria<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Al-Sharaa vows Golan Heights will remain Syrian in UN speech\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928094-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2928094\" data-cid=\"9925050\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928094-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_de81d247-da83-56f5-a191-2afbca25c802-9925050.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU Commission poised to back Albania&#8217;s 2027 accession deadline\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927958-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2927958\" data-cid=\"9924408\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927958-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/44\/08\/189x106_cmsv2_2fb51c36-bb7d-5e7d-9323-a9ee3581ed80-9924408.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talk after reaching a trade deal at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland, July 2025. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump\u2019s Russia tariffs could threaten to deepen Europe\u2019s LNG squeeze\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924314-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2924314\" data-cid=\"9907050\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924314-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/70\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_6a031aa8-42fa-5ea5-9590-eeedaa88623f-9907050.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\u00a9\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cult<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    From mugham to jazz, Azerbaijan takes the Montreux stage\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928091-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2928091\" data-cid=\"9925035\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928091-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/35\/189x106_cmsv2_4a49e073-f72a-5abe-8e14-4539bd7174ca-9925035.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Syria&apos;s President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Syria<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Al-Sharaa vows Golan Heights will remain Syrian in UN speech\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928094-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2928094\" data-cid=\"9925050\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928094-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_de81d247-da83-56f5-a191-2afbca25c802-9925050.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU Commission poised to back Albania&#8217;s 2027 accession deadline\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927958-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2927958\" data-cid=\"9924408\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927958-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/44\/08\/189x106_cmsv2_2fb51c36-bb7d-5e7d-9323-a9ee3581ed80-9924408.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talk after reaching a trade deal at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland, July 2025. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump\u2019s Russia tariffs could threaten to deepen Europe\u2019s LNG squeeze\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924314-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2924314\" data-cid=\"9907050\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924314-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/70\/50\/189x106_cmsv2_6a031aa8-42fa-5ea5-9590-eeedaa88623f-9907050.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\u00a9\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cult<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    From mugham to jazz, Azerbaijan takes the Montreux stage\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Culture<\/p>\n<p>                          Culture Series<\/p>\n<p>                          Modern Nomads<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            From Tian Shan peaks to Silk Road history: A journey through Turkistan<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-sp\"><span class=\"c-sp__label\">In partnership with<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/campaigns\/866\/300x64_cmsv2_c74631ff-d361-585c-9238-73fc14ca3554-866.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"64\" alt=\"MDQ\" class=\"c-sp__logo\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/73\/1536x864_cmsv2_ec2f7e60-867a-5e0e-8be4-d1b2759205ff-9922873.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"\u00a9\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              \u00a9<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Euronews\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbsp<b>Meruyert Zhakiya<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1790168403\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-23 15:00:03 +02:00\">23\/09\/2026 &#8211; 15:00 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header 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class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Ranked among Kazakhstan\u2019s top five domestic tourist destinations, the Turkistan region blends nature, history and spirituality, revealing the rich heritage of the country\u2019s southern region.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--culture js-article-content\">\n<p>Modern Nomads has already explored the city of Turkistan and the magnificent Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the renowned Turkic Sufi poet and mystic. This time, the journey continues across the Turkistan region in southern Kazakhstan, beginning in Sairam-Ugam National Park at the foot of the Western Tian Shan mountains.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A mountain escape in southern Kazakhstan<\/h2>\n<p>The landscape changes dramatically as the road climbs into the mountains. Cool air replaces the heat of southern Kazakhstan, while alpine meadows, crystal-clear rivers and forested slopes create striking scenery.<\/p>\n<p>Local rangers say the water in some of the park\u2019s streams is clean enough to drink. Climbers, hikers and campers come from Kazakhstan and abroad to explore its mountain trails and spend nights surrounded by alpine scenery.<\/p>\n<p>For German traveller Fenja Schreiber and American tourist Kaleb Shumway, camping in the park became one of the highlights of their journey through Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t make it up to the second lake, but we camped by the first lake for two nights. It was amazing,&#8221; says Shumway. &#8220;We saw a group of about 30 goats in the morning,&#8221; adds Schreiber.<\/p>\n<p>The park&#8217;s rich biodiversity also requires visitors to tread carefully. Rangers ask people to keep noise to a minimum, as Sairam-Ugam is home to some of Kazakhstan&#8217;s rarest wildlife.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The park is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including snow leopards, Tian Shan brown bears and Siberian ibex,&#8221; says park ranger Daniyar Otegenov. &#8220;Near the lakes, visitors can often spot marals grazing. Many people come here hoping to see these animals, and it&#8217;s not unusual for wildlife to come quite close to visitors.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Interest in the park continues to grow. More than 71,000 people have visited Sairam-Ugam so far this year, according to park officials, with the busiest part of the season still ahead. Tourism infrastructure is expanding alongside visitor numbers, with accommodation ranging from capsule cabins to hotels. A new visitor centre, scheduled to open in 2027, is expected to make the park more accessible to visitors.<\/p>\n<h2>Walking through a Silk Road metropolis<\/h2>\n<p>Leaving the mountains behind, our journey continues to Otrar, once one of the most important cities along the Silk Road. Today, little remains beyond wind, sand and the outlines of ancient streets. Yet walking through the 200-hectare archaeological site, visitors can trace the outlines of the city that once stood here.<\/p>\n<p>The heart of Otrar was its citadel, the city&#8217;s heavily fortified centre and home to its wealthiest residents. Reconstructed houses offer a glimpse into everyday life centuries ago, revealing that many features associated with modern living were already in use.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;During the winter, the underfloor heating served several purposes,&#8221; explains tour guide Ismail Omaraliyev. &#8220;People baked bread and cooked food here, and in the evenings, they would rest and sleep on the warm floors.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Just beyond the homes stood the public bathhouse, where residents relaxed in communal bathing pools. Nearby were the mosque, the central square and the palace of Berdibek Khan. As one of the busiest trading hubs on the Silk Road, Otrar welcomed hundreds of merchants and travellers every day.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At least two caravans arrived every day, each with around a hundred camels. On average, between 400 and 500 people spent the night in the city every day,&#8221; says Omaraliyev.<\/p>\n<p>Although Otrar flourished as a centre of trade for centuries, much of its story still lies beneath the ground. A research project supported by a grant from the International University of Tourism and Hospitality is helping archaeologists uncover new chapters of the city&#8217;s past. Led by Mukhtar Kozha, a professor and doctor of historical sciences at Akhmet Yassawi University, the team continues to excavate new areas of the settlement, revealing how Otrar evolved over the centuries.<\/p>\n<p>One of the latest discoveries is the oldest mosque found in Otrar so far, dating to the late 13th and early 14th centuries. After it fell out of use, the site later became a burial ground before eventually being transformed into a pottery workshop. Layer by layer, each excavation reveals another chapter of the city&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What makes this discovery remarkable is that we&#8217;ve found evidence of massive stone blocks being brought into the centre of Otrar,&#8221; says archaeologist Mukhtar Kozha. &#8220;The city is far from the mountains, so transporting them here must have required enormous resources and careful planning. It reflects the high level of urban culture and engineering that existed here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>With history stretching back more than 2000 years, Otrar reached the height of its prosperity before being destroyed during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. It was later rebuilt and remained inhabited until the 19th century. Today, visitors can continue the journey through the nearby Otrar Museum, where many of the artefacts uncovered during excavations are preserved.<\/p>\n<h2>A place of pilgrimage<\/h2>\n<p>Just 15 minutes from Otrar stands the Mausoleum of Arystan Bab, one of Kazakhstan&#8217;s most important pilgrimage sites. Believed to have been the teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Arystan Bab remains a symbol of the region&#8217;s deep spiritual heritage.<\/p>\n<p>The structure standing today is the fourth version of the original mausoleum. Inside, two original 14th-century columns have survived centuries of wars, earthquakes and rebuilding, offering a rare connection to the monument&#8217;s earliest history.<\/p>\n<p>As interest in cultural tourism continues to grow, the Turkistan Region is attracting more visitors eager to discover its combination of mountain landscapes, Silk Road history and sacred traditions.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, the Turkistan Region accounted for 10% of domestic trips, placing it among Kazakhstan&#8217;s top five most visited destinations, according to the country&#8217;s Bureau of National Statistics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span 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class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Burabay National Park in summer \u2013 teaming with life and tourists<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>MDQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Tradition<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Tourism<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Kazakhstan<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Culture<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/24\/56\/480x270_cmsv2_be031013-1bb3-5e7a-90e6-446c30795b48-9802456.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\u00a9\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Modern Nomads<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Burabay National Park in summer \u2013 teaming with life and tourists<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>MDQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927980-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927980\" data-cid=\"9924515\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927980-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/45\/15\/320x180_cmsv2_f873a39c-2433-545c-87af-1c3ce6643258-9924515.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Taylor Swift announces new single \u2018Patient Zero\u2019 - and faces backlash for cover art\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Taylor Swift announces new single \u2018Patient Zero\u2019 &#8211; and faces backlash for cover art<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927937-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927937\" data-cid=\"9924253\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927937-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/42\/53\/320x180_cmsv2_d4c5ef1d-c4df-5370-af36-ebe1243d27c6-9924253.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tom Cruise says AI won\u2019t mean the end of cinema: \u201cPeople want to see real things\u201d\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Tom Cruise says AI won\u2019t mean the end of cinema: &#8216;People want to see real things&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927742-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927742\" data-cid=\"9924590\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927742-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/33\/19\/320x180_cmsv2_8e1dc0a4-a5bd-59ef-af38-d23a4124165d-9923319.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"&quot;It was that or die&quot; by Th\u00e9lyson Or\u00e9lien, with permission from the Lyon bookshop &quot;La voie aux chapitres&quot;\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French literary sensation faces claims of using AI<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923019-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923019\" data-cid=\"9900996\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2923019-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/09\/96\/320x180_cmsv2_c963d424-1d0f-5501-b908-1057fe8b5f42-9900996.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Kortnee Solomon, Texas, 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ivan McClellan on capturing the unseen world of Black cowboy culture<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927716-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927716\" data-cid=\"9923121\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927716-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/31\/21\/320x180_cmsv2_7e03f0b2-e840-56c0-878e-475b605bd210-9923121.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An Eurovision flag flies at the port of Burgas, on Bulgaria&apos;s Black Sea coast, which will host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. 14 August 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Head of Spanish broadcaster backs ongoing Eurovision boycott<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927773-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927773\" data-cid=\"9923538\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;I&#8217;m done with medical abuse&#8217;: actor Arnaud Denis dies by euthanasia in Belgium<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927325-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927325\" data-cid=\"9920846\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Singer Damon Albarn speaks out as Gorillaz kick off US tour: &#8216;Don\u2019t ever be neutral&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927687-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927687\" data-cid=\"9923077\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Archaeology at Troy: 2,800-year-old agora found, city was not abandoned after war<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923019-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923019\" data-cid=\"9900996\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ivan McClellan on capturing the unseen world of Black cowboy culture<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927633-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927633\" data-cid=\"9922574\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Shameful or faux outrage: Why has this Converse ad been pulled?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Modern Nomads has already explored the city of Turkistan and the magnificent Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the renowned Turkic Sufi poet and mystic. This time, the journey continues across the Turkistan region in southern Kazakhstan, beginning in Sairam-Ugam National Park at the foot of the Western Tian Shan mountains.A mountain escape in southern KazakhstanThe landscape changes dramatically as the road climbs into the mountains. Cool air replaces the heat of southern Kazakhstan, while alpine meadows, crystal-clear rivers and forested slopes create striking scenery.Local rangers say the water in some of the park\u2019s streams is clean enough to drink. Climbers, hikers and campers come from Kazakhstan and abroad to explore its mountain trails and spend nights surrounded by alpine scenery.For German traveller Fenja Schreiber and American tourist Kaleb Shumway, camping in the park became one of the highlights of their journey through Kazakhstan.&#8221;We didn&#8217;t make it up to the second lake, but we camped by the first lake for two nights. It was amazing,&#8221; says Shumway. &#8220;We saw a group of about 30 goats in the morning,&#8221; adds Schreiber.The park&#8217;s rich biodiversity also requires visitors to tread carefully. Rangers ask people to keep noise to a minimum, as Sairam-Ugam is home to some of Kazakhstan&#8217;s rarest wildlife.&#8221;The park is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including snow leopards, Tian Shan brown bears and Siberian ibex,&#8221; says park ranger Daniyar Otegenov. &#8220;Near the lakes, visitors can often spot marals grazing. Many people come here hoping to see these animals, and it&#8217;s not unusual for wildlife to come quite close to visitors.&#8221;Interest in the park continues to grow. More than 71,000 people have visited Sairam-Ugam so far this year, according to park officials, with the busiest part of the season still ahead. Tourism infrastructure is expanding alongside visitor numbers, with accommodation ranging from capsule cabins to hotels. A new visitor centre, scheduled to open in 2027, is expected to make the park more accessible to visitors.Walking through a Silk Road metropolisLeaving the mountains behind, our journey continues to Otrar, once one of the most important cities along the Silk Road. Today, little remains beyond wind, sand and the outlines of ancient streets. Yet walking through the 200-hectare archaeological site, visitors can trace the outlines of the city that once stood here.The heart of Otrar was its citadel, the city&#8217;s heavily fortified centre and home to its wealthiest residents. Reconstructed houses offer a glimpse into everyday life centuries ago, revealing that many features associated with modern living were already in use.&#8221;During the winter, the underfloor heating served several purposes,&#8221; explains tour guide Ismail Omaraliyev. &#8220;People baked bread and cooked food here, and in the evenings, they would rest and sleep on the warm floors.&#8221;Just beyond the homes stood the public bathhouse, where residents relaxed in communal bathing pools. Nearby were the mosque, the central square and the palace of Berdibek Khan. As one of the busiest trading hubs on the Silk Road, Otrar welcomed hundreds of merchants and travellers every day.&#8221;At least two caravans arrived every day, each with around a hundred camels. On average, between 400 and 500 people spent the night in the city every day,&#8221; says Omaraliyev.Although Otrar flourished as a centre of trade for centuries, much of its story still lies beneath the ground. A research project supported by a grant from the International University of Tourism and Hospitality is helping archaeologists uncover new chapters of the city&#8217;s past. Led by Mukhtar Kozha, a professor and doctor of historical sciences at Akhmet Yassawi University, the team continues to excavate new areas of the settlement, revealing how Otrar evolved over the centuries.One of the latest discoveries is the oldest mosque found in Otrar so far, dating to the late 13th and early 14th centuries. After it fell out of use, the site later became a burial ground before eventually being transformed into a pottery workshop. Layer by layer, each excavation reveals another chapter of the city&#8217;s history.&#8221;What makes this discovery remarkable is that we&#8217;ve found evidence of massive stone blocks being brought into the centre of Otrar,&#8221; says archaeologist Mukhtar Kozha. &#8220;The city is far from the mountains, so transporting them here must have required enormous resources and careful planning. It reflects the high level of urban culture and engineering that existed here.&#8221;With history stretching back more than 2000 years, Otrar reached the height of its prosperity before being destroyed during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. It was later rebuilt and remained inhabited until the 19th century. Today, visitors can continue the journey through the nearby Otrar Museum, where many of the artefacts uncovered during excavations are preserved.A place of pilgrimageJust 15 minutes from Otrar stands the Mausoleum of Arystan Bab, one of Kazakhstan&#8217;s most important pilgrimage sites. Believed to have been the teacher and spiritual mentor of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Arystan Bab remains a symbol of the region&#8217;s deep spiritual heritage.The structure standing today is the fourth version of the original mausoleum. Inside, two original 14th-century columns have survived centuries of wars, earthquakes and rebuilding, offering a rare connection to the monument&#8217;s earliest history.As interest in cultural tourism continues to grow, the Turkistan Region is attracting more visitors eager to discover its combination of mountain landscapes, Silk Road history and sacred traditions.In 2025, the Turkistan Region accounted for 10% of domestic trips, placing it among Kazakhstan&#8217;s top five most visited destinations, according to the country&#8217;s Bureau of National Statistics.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/23\/from-tian-shan-peaks-to-silk-road-history-a-journey-through-turkistan&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/73\/1200x675_cmsv2_ec2f7e60-867a-5e0e-8be4-d1b2759205ff-9922873.jpg&#8221;] Syria Al-Sharaa vows Golan Heights will remain Syrian in UN speech Europe News EU Commission poised to back Albania&#8217;s 2027 accession deadline Europe News Trump\u2019s Russia tariffs could threaten to deepen Europe\u2019s LNG squeeze Cult From mugham to jazz, Azerbaijan takes the Montreux stage In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2159789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2159789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159789\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2159789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2159789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2159789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}